Chronicle EditorJudith Phiri, Business Reporter
REPRESENTATIVES of different South African manufacturers have expressed preparedness to work with cross-border traders in the country, selling basic commodities directly to them, a move that will bypass middlemen.
During a Zimbabwe Cross-Border Traders Association investment interactive meeting in Bulawayo on Friday, a delegation of four South African manufacturers from different sectors met 92 representatives from the association’s administration centres, led by their president, Mr Killer Zivhu.
The meeting comes at a time when Government recently scraped import duty on some basic commodities in a move meant to counter escalating and unjustified price increases of goods and services.
“Our purpose here is to help you as citizens of this country, Zimbabwe, so that you save time and money, while most importantly you also make money.
I represent various manufacturers in South Africa such as the ones that make your cooking oil, sugar, beans, maize meal, rice, soap, washing powder, just to name a few.
We are going to get you the best possible prices out there,” said Ms Kajal Panday, one of the South African manufacturers’ representatives.
She said their intention was to ensure that cross-border traders got one standard price that allows them to sell their products at reasonable prices, while they also benefit.
Ms Panday said they had already set up a massive warehouse in Musina, near the border post, that allows traders to cut costs of having to travel all the way to Johannesburg.
“We are going to use the next six months and ensure that we provide a good service, good value for money and continuity of products.
So, you are not going to run out of stock as we will make sure that you have enough stock at all times.
You will also be able to order and make payments online, the smart way.”
Ms Panday said the warehouse will only be open to members of the Zimbabwe Cross-Border Traders Association who should provide their membership cards.
“As you are aware we have created a partnership with the association, hence the membership has the exclusivity to the warehouse which is not open to members of the public.
This allows you to cut out the middlemen and you will not have to deal with wholesalers that give you a hard time, while you are also buying from one central point with all products available,” she said.
Mr Zivhu said members also had access to the goods on a credit facility and they were working with a couple of banks to ensure that funds were readily available to cross-border traders.
“We want to go a step further and complement what our Government led by President Mnangagwa did.
By engaging the manufacturers themselves we will be able to purchase these goods at even cheaper prices from South Africa which will then further compel these local manufacturers to reduce their prices.”
He said they were confident that the partnership will be fruitful as it will go a long way to avert the unjustified prices that were crippling citizens, coupled with an artificial shortage of goods in some shops.
Mr Zivhu said there was a need to take advantage of the waiver period on duty and make sure cross-border traders flood the market with basic commodities to alleviate the plight of the people who are at the mercy of some unscrupulous businesses.
The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, said cross-border trading was a viable economic activity that many people in the country depended upon for survival.
“This meeting could not have come at a better time than this when Government has scraped import duties on basic commodities and this is meant to counter the unfair and unjustified price increase of basic commodities which negatively affect our citizenry.
Let us grab this opportunity to bring in goods for the benefit of our people,” she said.
Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson Cde Jabulani Sibanda said citizens should take pride of their nation and avoid sabotaging their own country.
Online Reporter